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Massey bows out of Third Congressional District race

March 17, 2010 By

Edgefield Senator Shane Massey will not run for Congress. He was to run in the Republican primary for the Third District seat to be vacated by Gresham Barrett. For the primary, this leaves GOP contenders Rep. Rex Rice, Rep. Jeff Duncan and Richard Cash.

In a statement today, Massey says “In the midst of difficult times for our state, with a budget fight looming in the Senate, I feel the need to remain in the Senate to fight for the people of Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick, and Saluda.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Politics & Government

Golf tournament loan passes House after loud opposition (Audio)

March 17, 2010 By

The House has voted in support of a proviso in the state budget that would provide a $10 million loan to the Heritage Golf Tournament held in Hilton Head, the state’s only PGA event. During its third day of budget debate Wednesday, members voted 69-43 to aid the event using money from the state’s insurance reserve fund. The Heritage is supported by Verizon this year but currently has no sponsor listed for next year.

 Beaufort County Republican Bill Herbkersman supported it, saying that the tournament generates millions for the state’s general fund last year.

Reports from 2008 indicate that Heritage Classic Foundation raised $8.6 million, spending $8.5 million. The tournament contributes to more than 100 charitable groups.

Lexington Republican Nikki Haley was outspoken against the proposal.  She said lawmakers should just consider the facts, including that the insurance reserve fund is set aside for the state’s emergencies like hurricanes.

“And we’re not talking about the merits of this tournament.  But we don’t want to start down a road where next we have the Camden Cup and the steeple chase event saying they need money.  And if you give them a security blanket, where is the motivation for them to find their own sponsorship?  Parks, Recreation and Tourism is there to help them get sponsorship.”

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Business, Legislature, News

SC Senate votes to add protection to water supply

March 17, 2010 By

Water, as a state resource, will be more protected under a bill that passed the Senate on Tuesday. Berkeley Republican Paul Campbell authored most of the water permitting bill -one that was five years in the making. It sets up surface water use and reporting.

Campbell calls it a good and fair bill. “None of the six or seven, eight interest groups that were working with us on the bill are exactly happy with the bill, but none are unhappy with the bill,”says Campbell. “They can all support what we came up with. We’ve got agreement from the environmental side, but we’ve also got agreement from business, industries and utilities, from public water, from agriculture -they’re all with us. What we’ve tried to do is come up with a bill that treats everybody fairly.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation, News, Politics & Government

SC AIDS/HIV health care providers fight for funding

March 17, 2010 By

At the Statehouse, as budget debate in the House Wednesday got fiery over funding a national golf tournament, AIDS patients and activists gathered outside the chamber to ask for restored funding. Initially left out of state spending altogether,  the state’s official AIDS task force has had $2.2 million added in an amendment. Dr. Bambi Gaddist, Chair of the SC HIV/AIDS Care Crisis Task Force says that even the $5.9 million level from the past two years is not enough.

“Given the new testing regimens that are out, the fact that they have expanded testing in hospitals where we are now identifying more positives and adding to the role of people  who are uninsured and need medication, we’re looking at a $7.8 million deficit now,” Gaddist says.

The Kaiser Family Foundation says South Carolina has the highest rate in the nation for heterosexual AIDS transmission. Most affected by this cut are people needing the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). These cuts will not allow new enrollment, she says, and it may cutback current levels.  [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Legislature, News

Charleston being considered as defendant in fire suit

March 17, 2010 By

The South Carolina Court of Appeals is considering making the City of Charleston a defendant in the Sofa Super Store lawsuit following the fire three years ago that killed nine firefighters in the line of duty.  Now, a lower court order that barred the city from being a defendant in the case has been denied by the South Carolina Court of Appeals because the court wants to hear more arguments.

The Post and Courier reports that attorneys for the Sofa Super Store argue the city was negligent about firefighter safety in the blaze. However, eight of the nine families have sued the store, and various furniture and equipment manufacturers. These families opposed making Charleston the defendant in the cases. They have settled with 20 of the 30 defendants over time for nearly $7 million.  There is no settlement with the store.

Filed Under: Accidents & Disasters, Crime & Courts, News
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